NAIL SURGERY PRE OP ADVICE

This information sheet forms part of the informed consent before you undergo nail surgery.

Advantages and Disadvantages of surgery:

You will have an injection in the toe on both sides. Anaesthetic used is Mepivicaine Hydrochloride Solution (3% plain). This may sting slightly.

Phenol will be used to destroy the nail root so that part or all of the nail doesn’t grow again. This procedure is around 95% successful (i.e. the nail doesn’t grow back)

The area will weep for several days or weeks due to the chemical burn from the phenol. This is normal.

Once the area stops weeping, dressings can be left off.

Advantages

No regrowth (95% success rate)

No further pain or discomfort once healed

Disadvantages

Regrowth of nail (5% chance)

Delayed healing (sometimes healing takes several months)

Ulceration. In the case of very delayed healing, the area may ulcerate which can be serious if left untreated). Incidence within this practice is 0%

Osteomyelitis. This is a very rare infection of the bone and can lead to amputation of the toe. Incidence within this practice is 0%

Anaphalactic shock from anaesthetic (this is when you are allergic to the anaesthetic). This is very rare but may be serious and lead to hospital admission or death. Incidence within this practice is 0%

We are required by law to list every side effect of nail surgery so you can make an informed choice whether to undergo the procedure. The list may look frightening, but thankfully it is very very rare to get any serious problems. In our experience, the only problems we have seen is a toe taking up to four months to fully heal.